Gilder's Balm

The art of watergilding is an ancient craft. Over millennia thin, thin leaves of gold leaf have been laid down upon clay bole and gesso to create works of extraordinary beauty. Those of us who have fallen in love with this wonderful artisanal skill have learned much of its mysteries, and the meditative ritual of preparing our panels or frames with cloth, rabbit skin glue, layers of gesso, sanding, layers of clay bole… all this and then the gilding begins. We take up our gilder’s tip, the squirrel-hair brush we use to pick up the gold from our suede pad, cut with a gilder’s knife, we know this is a careful and precise art. No room for rushing. Don’t breathe too deep. The masters of this craft tell us there is benefit in applying a thin layer of balm to our skin. The cheek we lay our brush against. An arm. The back of a hand. We know this helps charge the tip to pick up the leaf. And here is a balm made for this very act of making beautiful gilded creations. This Archeus Gilder’s Balm inspired by artisans and alchemists, and my own love for working with this medium. Made with organic olive and castor oils, beeswax Archeus Gilder’s Balm will nourish your skin, and perhaps even your soul too. The essential oils of frankincense and cedarwood have been chosen because they are central to so many rituals in front of icons and gilded offerings to the gods. This Gilder's Balm is part of a collection of products created in celebration of the artisans and alchemists through time. Enjoy the connection. 60ml recyclable aluminum tin. This product will be available at georginalangdale.com from 1 September.